Apparatus



(No Model.)

T.. & C. E. DAVIS.

ICE MACHINE AND REFRIGER'ATING APPARATUS! No. 257,476. Patented May9,1 882.

1 5 *1 as S a:

N PETERS. FhoioLithogr-mpher, Walhmgmn. D. C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS DAVIS AND CHARLES E. DAVIS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

ICE-MACHINE AND REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,476, dated May 9, 1882.

Application filed February 3, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS DAVIS and CHARLES E. DAVIS, residents of Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ice-Machines and Refrigerating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, havin g reference to the accompanying drawing.

Our invention relates to that class of refrigerating apparatus in which aqua-ammonia is distilled and the product of distillation condensed by pressure and the removal ofits sensible heat to a liquid, which, upon being released partially from pressure, assumes the gaseous form, in which form it circulates through a system of pipes in a refrigerator, after which it is brought into contact with water, when aqua ammonia is re-formed, to be conveyed back to the retort or boiler, and is an improvement upon our patent of January 10, 1882, No. 252,021.

The objects of our present invention are, first, to automatically control the pressure and thereby the temperature in the steam-heater used in distilling the aqua-ammonia; second, to adapt an ordinary steam-gage to indicate the pressure of the gaseous ammonia; third, to more perfectly utilize the refrigerative power of the expanding gaseous ammonia in the reduction of the liquid ammonia to the lowest possible temperature just beforeits expansion to gaseous ammonia, and in the reduction of the temperature of the weak liquor in the absorber; fourth, to automatically control the flow of the liquid ammonia at the point of eX- pansion to gaseous ammonia; fifth, by means of an intermediate expanding and condensing chamber, interposed between the first condensing and the refrigerator tanks, to prevent the accumulation of water in the refrigerator-pipes sixth, to automatically control the flow of the gaseous ammonia fro m the refrigerator to the absorber, and thereby maintain a high pressure in the refrigerator-pipes and a low pressure in the absorber.

Our invention consists in the means employed for accomplishing the above-mentioned objects, as hereinafter fully described and shown.

The accompanying drawing illustrates our invention, in which the figure is a general ele- (No model.)

vation, the boiler and tanks beingshown in section.

A is a boiler or retort, constructed of iron, and of sufficient strength to sustain a pressure of abonttwo hundred pounds to the square inch.

B is a steam-heater placed within the boiler A, andconnected with a steam-generator by the pipe 1', and provided with a blow-off pipe, j, which may be connected with a steam-trap of any well-known construction.

J is a pipe leading from the top of the boiler, which, passing through the condensingtank 0, forms therein the coil K.

a is a tight cylindrical vessel of iron, into which pipe J discharges after passing through tank 0.

b is a strong cylindrical iron vessel, within which a is inelosed, an annular space being left between them. The interiors of a and b are separably connected by the pipe 0, in which is a valve, cl, which is automatically controlled by the regulator T.

F is a strong cylindrical vessel of iron, which is inelosed within a similar vessel, E, a space being left between them, as shown. The interiors of b and E are connected by a pipe, 0.

R is a refrigerating room or tank, which is traversed by the refrigerating-pipe j, which passes from the interior of E through tank R to the interior of F. A pipe, 0, passes from near the bottom of A through the condensing tank D, where it forms a coil, H, and passing out and onward discharges into cylinder F. The bottom of F is connected with the boiler through pipe u and injector 20, which is operated by a jet of ammonia-gas through pipe :12.

The operation of our device is as follows: Into the boiler A a quantity of strong aquaammonia is put, sufficient to fill it above the heater-top. The tanks G and D are filled with cold water, which is constantly renewed as it becomes warm. The valves in all pipes leading from A being closed, steam is admitted to the heater B through pipe i, thereby raising the temperature of the aqua-ammonia and expelling the ammonia therefrom in a gaseous form. The pressure of steam in, and consequent temperature of, heater B is controlled and regulated by the pressure of gas or vapor in A, operating the valve in i by means of the governor I, which consists of a piston, l, nicely fitted in a cylinder, and moving therein outward by the pressure in the boiler, and inward by the spring a, the piston-rod m being connected to the valve-lever, and the cylinder connected with the interior of the boiler by pipe 4'. When the pressure has reached the desired point in boiler A piston l is forced outward by any excess of pressure, thus partially closing the valve in pipe i. When the pressure falls the piston is forced inward by the spring a and the valve is again opened.

We do not confine ourselves to the particular construction of govern-or here shown, but use this to illustrate the operation of the control of the flow of steam into the heater by the pressure in the retort or boiler.

We use'a steam-gage of any well-known kind to indicate the pressure in boiler A. Heretofore special gages have been required for this purpose, the ammonia vapor corroding and destroying the working parts of ordinary steamgages. We prevent the contact of the gas with the diaphragm of the gage by interposin g a quantity of petroleum or other fluid on which the aminonia gas has no destructive effect. In. this case we put the petroleum in the coil or bend in the pipe y, leading to the gage. When the pressure in A increases the petroleum is forced forward by the ammonia-gas and operates the mechanism of the gage. When the pressure of the ammonia in Ahasreaehed about one hundred and fifty pounds to the square inch, the valve h in pipe 0 is opened and the denser portion of the water from which the ammonia has been mostly expelled passes into the coil H in the tank I), where it is deprived of a large portion of its heat. It then passes into the absorber 1* until it is nearly filled. The valve in pipe J is now opened, and the gaseous ammonia passing into the coil K is condensed to a'liquid by the combined action of pressure from A and reduction of its temperature by the water in O. Passing from O the liquid ammonia passes into the vessel a, and passes out therefrom to the automaticallycontrolled valve d, where or through which it enters the vessel 1), expanding into gaseous ammonia which envelops the vessel a, the effect being to more rapidly reduce the temperature of the liquid ammonia in a, and the consequent greater expansion and increase of refrigerative power when expanding in vessel b and the refrigerator-pipes. 7

It has been found in former apparatus for this purpose that a certain portion of aqueous vapor is carried over with the ammonia, which aqueous vapor is condensed in the pipes con- Veyin g the gaseous ammonia during its expansion, and frequent obstructions of the pipes occur from this cause. In our apparatus we collect the condensed water in the lower end of vessel 1), where it is first formed, and at intervals convey it by pipe 8 direct to the absorber F, from whenceitis returned asaqua-ammonia to the boiler. The flow of liquid ammonia from vessel ais automatically controlled by the pressure of the expanding gaseous ammonia in b, which operatesa governor, T, controllingthe valve d. Said governoris precisely similar in construction to governor I, connected with the boiler, except that a quantity of petlO18l1lD,l), is interposed between the gaseous ammonia and the piston to prevent leakage of the ammonia. The expanding ammoniagas leaves vessel 1) by the pipe 0 and enters the vessel E near the bottom, and rising therein envelops the absorber F, the effect being to rapidly reduce the weak liquor therein to alower temperature, and thereby fit it to rapidly absorb the gaseous ammonia, which, continuing on its way, leaves vessel E by pipef, and after circulating through a coil in refrigerator-tank It is discharged into absorber F, where it is absorbed by the water therein and then returned to the boiler by pipe/a and injector '10. We have found that a better refrigerating effect is produced when a considerable pressure is maintained in the pipes conveying the expanding gaseous ammonia; but that at the same time the gaseous ammonia must not he allowed to cause any considerable pressure in the absorber F, but must be admitted only so fast as it can be taken up by the weak liquor therein. To accomplish this result we place the automatically-controlledvalveo in the refrigerator-pipe just before its entrance into the absorber. Said valve is controlled by the governor L, which is connected with the interior of the absorber. If, now, the pressure is increased in the absorber, itwill act on the governor to close valve o and confine the gas in the refrigerator pipes. If this causes too high a pressure there, it will react through vessel b on governor T and shut off the supply of liquid ammonia. It will thus be seen that by a proper adjustment of the valves and governors the desired pressure may be maintained in all parts of the apparatus and the operation rendered continuous so long as heat is supplied.

We claim as our invention-- 1. In an ammonia refrigerating apparatus,

the combination, with boiler A, heater B, and steam-supply pipe i, of an automatic valve-regulator, substantially as deseribed, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a boiler, retort, or vessel containing ammonia and a pressuregage, the use of petroleum or fluid of like properties in the presence of ammonia, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an ammonia refrigerating apparatus, the combination of vessels to and b, substantially in the manner described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an ammonia refrigerating apparatus, the combination, with a valve controlling the flow of liquid ammonia to the expanding-chamber, of a governor operated by the expanding gaseous ammonia, substantially in the manner described.

5. In an ammonia refrigerating apparatus,

the absorber F and surrounding vessel E, containing ammonia-gas on its way to the refrigerator, combined substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

5 6. In an ammonia refrigerating apparatus, the combination, with the absorber F and the refrigerator, of a valve, 1 automatically regulated and controlled by the pressure in the absorber, substantially as shown and described,

10 and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination, in an ammonia refrigerating apparatus, of the expansion-chamber b, itbSOIbEl F, and pipe 8, for the purpose set orth.

THOMAS DAVIS. CHARLES E. DAVIS. Witnesses:

II. P. H001), OZNI P. H001). 

